Late duck hunting season is a disappointment

Some Iowa hunters who’d hoped to have a nice duck for their holiday dinner may be disappointed. Lowell Washburn of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the pickings have been slim for late season duck hunters. He says they knew going in that migration numbers were going to be down, but didn’t expect them to be so low. Washburn says there are a couple of reasons for the duck decline.He says a three-year drought in Canada has hurt duck populations, and he says the weather patterns didn’t work to send the ducks this way. The duck drought didn’t spread to all hunters. Washburn says those who hunted in the early season had good success.He says early September and mid October saw some good migration of ducks. Washburn says the overall season will likely be considered a success. He says when the final numbers are in, they should show the season was very good.The duck hunting season runs through December 5 in the state’s North Zone and concludes December 14 in the South Zone.